Ahead of a joint rally appearance by the U.S. and Indian leaders in Houston, Democratic presidential candidate Bernies Sanders has reminded President Trump of Prime Ministr Naredra Modi‘s blatant repression in Kashmir, demanding Washington press an end to the communication blockade that has paralyzed the disputed region since August 5 repeal of its autonomous status.
“When President Trump meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston, we will hear much about the friendship between the American and Indian peoples,”Senator Sanders wrote.
“However, there will be a deafening silence when it comes to a human rights crisis unfolding right before our eyes — and that is unacceptable,” he says in an opinioin piece published in The Houston Chornicle published hours before the rally “Howdy Modi!!.”
For his part, President Trump, who is also due to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan during the UN General Assembly session in New York on Sunday, has offered to media between India and Pakistan on the thorny Kashmir dispute.
President Donald Trump meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi in Manila, Philippines, November 13, 2017
Photo: Screenshot/Official WH YouTube Video
Nevertheless, Trump has so far avoided issuing a strong condemnation of Modi’s repression in the Indian-administered Kashmir – a diplomatic position that analysts say represents the importance U.S. attaches to its relations with India both economically and as a strategic counterbalance to China.
The White House has said the U.S. president’s joint appearance underscores the important relationship between the two countries that are also said to be making progress on addressing their trade disputes.
But the liberal senator from Vermont, who spoke out against gross human rights in his campaign earlier, noted that the Modi-Trump rally is happening at a moment when the state of Kashmir remains under lockdown.
“In early August, Modi’s government unilaterally revoked Kashmir’s longstanding autonomy, has cracked down on dissent, jailed political leaders and instituted a communications blackout.”
Sanders points out that that the lockdown has also blocked Kashmiris’ access to basic medical care.
In a letter in the British Medical Journal on Aug. 16, a group of doctors from across India asked their government to ease restrictions on communication and travel, saying they were “a blatant denial of the right to health care and the right to life” because they made it difficult for patients and staff to get to hospitals.
A recent Human Rights Watch report notes that, “From chemotherapy to dialysis, patients are struggling to access lifesaving treatment on time.”
“President Trump has voiced no criticism of these troubling moves. He should be demanding that these restrictions be lifted and communications be restored immediately,” Sanders demanded.
“To be clear, Pakistan has also often played a bad role in Kashmir. But I believe the U.S. president must speak clearly in support of international humanitarian law and in support of a UN-backed peaceful resolution between India and Pakistan that respects the will of the Kashmiri people. Unfortunately, Trump has chosen to abandon the United States’ global leadership role. He is remaining silent on the Kashmir crisis while planning to hold a public rally with India’s prime minister,” the Democratic senator wrote.
The United Nations, which maintains its military observer in the disputed Kashmir region, has adhered to its position that the India and Pakistan should resolve this through negotiations and also offered a mediatory role.
Human rights organization including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and a genocide prevention organizations have condemned flagrant violation of human rights violations in Kashmir.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan has condemned Modi’s move to deprive Kashmir of its autonomous status as “fascist” and akin to German Nazis’ perpetration of atrocities against Jewish people. He has warned the world against appeasement of Modi.
Modi has defended the decision to integrate Kashmir into Indian state, saying Kashmir is an integral part of India and that its inclusion in mainland India would help bring economic development to the region.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir say the doing away of their autonomy will change the demographic character of their territory and allow majority Hindu population to dominate the only Muslim majority area under Indian rule.
In his opinion piece, Sanders cited his Jewish background and the persecution and anti-Semitism his father’s family went through, and vowed to make human rights a key priority in U.S. conduct of foreign policy, if elected as president of the United States.
